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Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - Web posted at 9:25:21 GMT President rejects SSC man over party loyalty TANGENI AMUPADHIPRESIDENT Sam Nujoma has reportedly rejected the appointment of a new head for the Social Security Commission (SSC), calling for a person loyal to the ruling party. |
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The Namibian has learnt from authoritative sources that Nujoma expressed his displeasure that the SSC board had chosen Koot van der Merwe, a man with no known allegiance to Swapo, to become its CEO. Government officials have denied reports that Nujoma had intervened to stop Van der Merwe from taking over at the beleaguered parastatal. Andre Hashiyana, a Presidential aides, said yesterday Nujoma has not involved himself in the appointment of administrators at the SSC. Van der Merwe, who has already been offered the job, said yesterday he expects to start at the SSC in November and was "looking forward to serving the nation". Officials close to the SSC board said the President made his feelings known recently after some trade union leaders had complained. "It is true the Government does not want our candidate but that is largely because of the trade unions and not from the ruling party per se," said an official who declined to the named. Alfred Angula, a member of the SSC board representing trade unions, said yesterday that he was not aware the labour unions were against Van Der Merwe's appointment. The chairman of the SSC board, Frans Kapofi, said he had "no idea" that Nujoma preferred to appoint someone considered a "loyal party cadre". Kapofi said the board was waiting for the Minister of Labour, Marco Hausiku, to give his "final approval". "He [Haufiku] has to carry final instructions from the Government," Kapofi said. Hausiku said he was expecting communication from various SSC partners - Government, labour unions and business representatives - before making his final decision. "There are small differences that I think they will have to overcome," said Hausiku, who also denied that Government was opposed to Van Der Merwe becoming CEO. At the end of July, Kapofi confirmed that they had found a CEO but declined to name the person, saying an announcement was imminent. He also said at the time that loyalty to a political party was not one of the criteria for getting the job. Swapo leaders have let it be known that "strategic" positions in State-owned companies and Government should be occupied by people "loyal" to the ruling party because outsiders were deemed likely to "sabotage" the party programme. Angula, like several board members, said yesterday they had picked on the best candidate "to revive" the SSC and "give it a new look". The board was reportedly strongly in favour of Van der Merwe, currently the head of finance at NamPort in Walvis Bay. He is seen as the right person to clean up the financial mess at the SSC. "It's not an issue of black and white, it's a question of delivery," said Angula, the General Secretary of the Namibia Farmworkers' Union (Nafwu). The State's welfare company's image is battered after years of maladministration and corruption allegations that were given credence during public hearings by a Presidential commission of inquiry. The inquiry heard that the SSC may have lost millions of dollars in questionable investments placed through a select group of insurance brokers. |
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